Game score box



De. 91 I C. L. BALL GAME SCORE B01 Filed Jun 9, 9

INVENTOR. C.L.Ball

BY 5 Q 3BQTORNEY Patented Dec. 9 1.924.

UNITED STATES CECIL I... BALL, OF STOCKTON, CALIFQRNI-A.

GAME SO0E13 BOX.

Application filed June 9, 192 3.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. CECIL L. BALL a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Stockton, county of San Joaquin, State of California, have invented certain new and usetul lmprovements in Game Score Boxes; and I'dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and-em t description of the same, reterence bein'ghad tothe accompanying draw- :ings, a nl to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a art of this application.

This invention relates to a device for keepingand indicating the score between two teamsparticipating in a game, the principal object of the invention being to provide a device especially adapted for use in gymnasiums and the like. to keep the scores of such games as are played therein, such as basketball, indoor baseball, volley and hand ball, and the like, in such a manner that the score may be easily seen by boththe players and the onlookers.

Another object is to provide a device of this character so constructed that the score keeper may stand behind the device at all times, so as not to ever shut off the view of the score from those desiring to see the same, and yet may know, without himself seeing the main score-figures, that they are correctly displayed.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purposes for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the score box.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the same, with the front cover and score-ribbons removed.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 2, with all members in place.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary portion of a score ribbon.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral 1 denotes a box or container of suit able size, having a front cover 2 provided with horizontally spaced. openings 3, prefer- Serial No. 644,370.

ably rectangular in shape and located between the top and bottom of the cover.

Smaller orifices at are out throughthe top of the box adjacent the side edges thereof, or beyond the p ane of the corresponding edges of the ope The box; has a vertical partitionfi'betweeu the openings 3, dividing the box into-two compartments. in the side walls fo'teach compartment are journaled upper and lowei spools 6 and 7, each pair being independent of the other but arranged in common horizontal alinen'ient. I j

The upper spools 6 are turned byuneans of knobs 8 on the outside of the b'ox,'ifvvliile the lower spools 7 may be turned by crank handles 9 similarly located.

A ribbon or strip 10 of any suitable material is secured at its ends to each pair of vertically spaced spools and is wound there on, being arranged so as to be unwound from one spool while be'ng wound onto the other.

These ribbons, intermediate their connection with their respective spools, passes around rollers 11 located close to the cover 2 and adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof, so as to throw the ribbons close against the openings 3 and also close to the orifice 4; at all times.

The r'bbons bear numbers 12, nearly the height of the openings 3, running from 1 up to whatever high number is desired as the limit, said numbers being so spaced apart longitudinally of the ribbons that no part of adjacent numbers projects into View through said openings when a certain number is being displayed.

The ribbons also have another set of smaller numbers 13, corresponding to the numbers 12, but arranged to one side of the same, so as never to be visible through the openings 3 but in al'nement only with the orifices a. These smaller numbers are spaced apart from center to center a distance equal to the corresponding spacing of the numbers 12, but are inverted relative there to, so that to a scorekeeper standing behind the box as preferably intended he should, these small numbers, visible to him through the orifices 4;, will be right side up.

The numbers 13 are not of course in horizontal alinement with the main numbers 12, but are spaced vertically from the corresponding main numbers a distance equal to that between the orifices 3 and 4:, so that when 1 for instance is displayed at the opening 3, 1 Will also be seen below the orifice 4.

The numbers are arranged on the ribbons so that they are raised to advance the score, and are then being Wound onto the upper spools 6 by turning of the relatively slowaction knobs 8.

When the game is ended, the lower spools are turned to retract the ribbons, the crank handles 9 employed on the lower spools enabling faster rotative movement thereof being had.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claim.

Having thus described. my invention what 1 claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A game score device comprising a box having an opening in front, a ribbon inside the box movable across and adjacent the top of the box, spaced spools on which the rib bon is wound, there being an opening in sa'd top above the adjacent spool, and an idler roller adjacent and under said top opening and over which the ribbon passes intermediate the upper spool. and the front opening of the box, whereby to maintain the ribbon in close proximity to the top opening regardless of the amount of ribbon on the spool; said ribbon having two corresponding sets of numbers on the same face thereof, the numbers of one set being visible through the front opening and the others only through the top opening and in correlating order.

In test mony whereof I aflixed my signature.

CECIL L. BALL. 

